Development of Overseas Services in Canada: Realizing Newcomer Potential Through Overseas Preparation Lorraine Trotter, Assistant Vice President, International and Immigrant Education, George Brown College
Key Issues: Overseas Services: Key Issues -Length of time and complex challenges of credential recognition processes. - ITIs are unprepared for document requirements, time and probability of success in getting their credentials recognized and entering the workforce at an appropriate level of entry. census data study showed that immigrants in Canada for ten years or less had a higher incidence of over qualification than their Canadian-born counterparts More than one-half (52%) of recent immigrants with a university degree have worked in a job requiring only high school education This was almost twice the percentage of their Canadian-born counterparts. (28%) Recent immigrants were not only twice as likely to experience overqualification. They were also twice as likely to stay overqualified The economic costs due to underutilization of skills and learning due to foreign credential recognition challenges is estimated at $2.6 billion. (FCRO)
Solutions How can we accelerate credential recognition and elevate entry? Web information provision Overseas services- CIIP, AEIP, COA, IPSO, Canada Infonet Leveraging College and University networks and retaining international students
Web Information Provision Going to Canada Portal Portal prepares prospective immigrants, international students, foreign workers and newcomers for living and working in Canada by: Highlighting Canada as a destination of choice for skilled immigrants Providing a primary point of access to authoritative information, services and tools enabling informed decisions about where to settle in Canada Increasing awareness of opportunities, challenges and barriers awaiting prospective immigrants Enabling local connections through links with provinces, territories, municipalities and communities
Web Information Provision FCRO (Foreign Credentials Referral Office) Website Offers information, resources and programs for immigrants and employers via website including: Credential Recognition Language Skills Job opportunitties through the Working in Canada Tool Pre-arrival Information Workbook for Newcomers Occupation Facts The Employers Roadmap Guide for employers interested in hiring immigrants
Overseas Services: The Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP) Overview Pre departure training sessions and coaching for approved immigrants covering settlement, credential recognition, education and work force entry Launched in 2005 and managed by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). CIC funded. Scope Provincial nominees, federal skilled workers and adult dependants 4 hubs: Manila, Delhi, Guangzhou, London serving 25 countries on site, off-site, satellite and online deliveries
The Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP) Service CIC invites Federal Skilled Workers, Provincial Nominees and their families completing the immigration process to participate -> voluntary registration Clients are invited to attend two-day session in office, off site or online (30% of invited prospects participate): - Day 1 Orientation Workshops - Day 2 Counselling + Referrals Clients follow action plan to leverage resources and referrals to Canadian partners and employers
CIIP Process Flow
Partner Network for Referrals and Overseas/in Canada Service Delivery Immediate contact with Canada-based focal point partners in each province / region College and settlement focal points provide service continuity via online advice, on-arrival support, and onward referral Online credential assessment conducted and / or referrals made to credential assessment agencies Referrals to partner network - sector councils, regulators and governments (Alberta and Manitoba)
Partners Post Secondary Institutions (PSI): CIIP partners with colleges and universities to provide information about and access to Canadian training and education opportunities. PSI advisors and counselors deliver individual education, settlement and labour market advising to determine settlement, career and academic pathways and goals Develop individualized plans for pre-arrival supports. Immigrant Serving Organizations (ISO): Very diverse and comprehensive network of ISO partners offering services in all regions. Scope settlement focused - includes information provision, joint programming, policy input, reporting
Partners Credential Recognition agencies: Services as described by WES Employers: Review CVs -- some arrange interviews with qualified applicants while they are in home country Provide venues for off-site job readiness workshops Host video Conferences on industry sectors and job readiness Organize online webinars on workplace culture and job readiness Host in-country workshops Visit field offices to gain better understanding of international work cultures Participants have been offered jobs before their arrival in Canada
Partners Governments: CIIP partners with provincial and federal government organizations for the purposes of information sharing, policy input and additional project development. Provide funding for local agencies to facilitate engagement with overseas clients Send Ministerial welcome letter (AB) Receive monthly lists of imminent arrivals (AB) Receive referrals (MN) Conduct pilots (PNP pilot MN) Raise awareness Supply provincial materials for Orientation Workshops Host internships for field staff Field visits at CIIP overseas offices
Partners Regulatory Bodies: Over 400 regulatory professional bodies in Canada. Regulations vary from province to province and from occupation to occupation, affecting worker mobility within Canada and the integration of internationally-trained workers across the country. CIIP partners with regulatory bodies for the purposes of information sharing and in some cases, joint program development, for example Federation of Law Society proctoring exams in India Certified General Accountants Association of Canada exams in India and Philippines (June 2011) Sector Councils and Associations: CIIP partners with national Sector Councils and Associations for the purposes of information sharing, policy input and joint project development, for example The Information and Communications Technology council (ICTC) and Canadian Tourism Human Resource council (CTHRC), provide sector-specific assessment and credentialing tools
Partnerships between partners Integrated Pre-arrival Services Online (IPSO) partnership among JVS Toronto, Ryerson University and Skills International. Project provides online services including language training, job readiness, cultural competency, employer connections and mentoring: Language Assessment Writing Skills and Pre-employment Workshops Industry Specific Mentoring Employer Connections http://www.ipsocanada.ca/information.html Canada InfoNet -An online mentoring forum led by JVS in partnership with mentoring network for ITIs and trades people Cornerstone is the Online Mentoring Program. Internationally trained and educated mentees can connect online with Canadians of similar backgrounds. http://www.canadainfonet.org/about_canada_info_net
Results Contact with 13,000+ clients (in 4 years) 10,000+ graduates Reached 30% of eligible clients in 2009 Excellent feedback Top marks for usefulness (90%), increased understanding (98%), changed expectations (92%), stimulated action planning (99%) Employment Outcomes Third Party Evaluation survey of 4,000 grads -- 38% responded (includes 1,051 in Canada) 67% were employed (includes new arrivals) 73% of those working entered the workforce within 3 months of arrival 93% entered workforce within 6 months 59% in the same or related occupation (first job) 22% at the same level or higher (first job)
CIIP feedback from the frontline
Overseas Services Active Engagement and Integration Project (AEIP) An overseas project in Korea and Taiwan to provide free pre-departure orientation and guidance to eligible clients.the project is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and managed by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Strength in services in Canada Pre-departure services in Seoul, South Korea and Taipei, Taiwan to skilled workers, members of the family class and live-in caregivers with group orientation supported by workshops and Case Management. Promotes community and labour market engagement and enhance adaptation process. Connections to Canadian organizations for further assistance. http://www.successbc.ca/eng/content/view/3261/41/
Overseas Services Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA) A project managed by the International Organization for Migration which provides orientation sessions for visa-ready migrants bound for Canada focus on refugees but also includes immigrants, and live-in caregivers Provide immigrants of all categories, including Live-in Caregivers from the Philippines, with accurate information about life in Canada Increase and develop immigrants' awareness and skills necessary to settle and successfully adapt, especially during the first six months http://www.iom.int/jahia/jahia/canadian-orientation-abroad
Leveraging Post Secondary Education Emerging attention to leveraging pre and post arrival international student population and overseas partners Over 200, 000 International students in Canada (2010) and hundreds of academic partnerships with institutions overseas Changes to immigration rules better attracting and enabling International students to become immigrants Key issues Need to balance domestic student needs with increased volume Delivery of consistent, high quality education Pursuit of diversity in source countries Success depends on linkage between programs offered and labour market demand Colleges strongly oriented to employer needs, strong work experience component to programs Linkage between overseas services such as CIIP and academic partners to enable overseas program delivery, gap filling
International student study Findings Colleges Value pre-existing credentials and experience Positive College experience Better information provision about immigrant pathways. Group information sessions Colleges outside large urban centres need to integrate immigration-related activities into international student supports Education about broad labour market opportunities and cross- Canada mobility Governments Provide resources and infrastructure supporting colleges outside large urban centres to deliver immigration information Infrastructure for providing labour market information and enabling mobility
What lies ahead How do we weave the wide variety of initiatives together into a seamless service? Initiatives are intended to be a platform for holistic approach to settlement, credential recognition, labour market entry and effective social integration How to manage the complexity of multiple objectives? How to move into leveraging education sector more strongly (and incorporate the experience of others)? How do we scale up?
Lorraine Trotter Assistant Vice President International & Immigrant Education George Brown College Toronto Ontario 416-415-5000 ex 4271 ltrotter@georgebrown.ca
Focal Point Partners: Settlement and Education British Columbia Vancouver Community College (VCC) DiverseCity Ontario George Brown College (GBC) COSTI Immigrant Services Global Experience Ontario & Health Force Ontario Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology Regina Open Door Society Alberta Bow Valley College (BVC) NorQuest College Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (EMCN) Manitoba Entry Program - Manitoba Labour and Immigration Red River College Atlantic Provinces Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services (MISA/HILC) Atlantic Provinces Community College Consortium (APCCC)
Canadian Colleges & CIIP